Frame for rheostat resistance elements.



J. T. SKINNER.

FRAME FOR BHEOSTAT RESISTANCE ELEMENTS. APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 16, 1914.

1,121,769. A Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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Z fl -A7\ Q \A ifnesses In i/emor APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1914.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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FRAME POR'RHEOSTAT RESISTANCE ELEMENTS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1911.

1,121,769. Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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JOHN r1. smnnn, or LAWRENCE, Kansas.

FRAME FOR RHEOSTAT RESISTANCE ELEMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Application filed June 18, 1914.. Serial No. 845,473.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN T. SKINxER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county ofDouglas and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in- Frames for hheostat Resistance Elements; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompany ng drawings, formingpart of this specification,

. and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of the present invention is to provide a frame for rheostatresistance elements used in connection with the electrical equipment ofelectrically driven cars, which. frame shall have the advantage of beingof lighter weight than the frames uowdn use, but of greater strength,com bined with the capacity for assembling the rheosta-t units in anydesired relation or position in or under the car, while permitting saidunits to be rigidly connected together as may be found most convenientor desirable.

The present application embodies features formerly embodied in my priorapplication Serial No. 817,252, filed February 7, 19M, and the inventionherein consists in certain novel details of construction andcombinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafterdescribed and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanyin drawings,-Figure 1 is an elevation of anend frame of a rheostat unit. Fig. 2 is a section in a central verticalplane through the same. Fi is a side elevation of therheostat unit withthe end frames in position. Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations illustratingrheostat units assembled in vertical and horizontal relationrespectively. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a skeleton frame for thereception of rheostat units to facilitate the use of such units eitherin or under the car, and to adapt the same for being more readilyinclosed by panels in situations where it may be desirable to change orrenew the units.

Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

The end frames A between two of which the resistance elements aremounted to form a unit are all duplicates and each is formed of a cuppedpiece of tough metal, thus providing a rectangular plate a surroundedbyedge flanges a, the outer faces of which flanges are at right angles tothe plane of the plate a for a purpose which will presently appear. Boththe plate a and flanges a are provided with a series of aperturesadapted for the reception of bolts or connecting rods. In the preferredconstruction the plate is provided with apertures B properly positionedto receive the ends of transverse rods C, whereby the two end frames Amay be connected together and the transverse rods C serve as the directsupports for the resistance elements D, Fig. 3'. In addition the plate ais preferably provided with a large central opening B, to reduce theweight of the structure and for the free circulation of air. The flangesa are preferably provided with apertures E for the reception offastenings or connect ing bolts e when the units are assembled one ontop of the other or side-.by-side as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. Theapertures E are correspondingly located in all of the flanges, thusadapting the units to be assembled in either relation specified, andregardless proximity to the adjacent unit. In addition to the openingsE, the flanges a are provided. with openings or apertures F adapted forthe reception of fastening devices whereby inclosing panels may besecured on the sides of the units so as to form a housing through whichair maybe circulated for the purpose of heating the car, or for thepurpose of keeping the resistance members cool in the well understoodmanner. or as described in the application hereinbefore referred to.Openings 7' are also formed in the body or plate a of the end frames forthe same purpose as the openings F in the flanges; thus. theconstructionof the side of the unit brought into is such that, regardless of therelation in i which the units are assembled, inclosing panels may bereadily attached thereto on any or all sides of the units, and any ofthe panels may be removed independently of the others.

In some instances it is desirable to mount t e units in a supportingframe and in Fig. 6 a skeleton frame is illustrated which is of suchform and construction that it may be readily secured in place in or onthe car and is adapted for the reception of resistance units such ashereinbefore described. This skeleton frame is formed by end pieces Gwith inwardly extending flanges g at top and bottom, said flanges beingconnected both at top and bottom along the front and rear of theskeleton frame by longitudinal bars H, and to give additional rigiditydiagonal bars 1' are extended across the top and bottom of the skeletonframe in opposite directions and securely bolted at their ends to thelongitudinal hars H. The bars H intermediate their ends Where attachedto the flanges G are ofiset to lie substantially in the plane of theflanges and thereby present their outer faces in the same plane as theouter faces of the flanges, this construction being especially welladapted for-resting flat against a supporting surface or for theattachment of inclosing panels. The end frames G are provided with largeopenings therethrough as at G, and portions of the metal, the removal ofwhich forms the openings, may be bent inwardly and form flanges orshelves K upon ivhich the end frames A of the resistance units may restwhen inclosed in the skeleton framework. The shelves K, flanges g and"ears H are all provided with perforations L and Z which are spacedpreferably to correspond to the spacing of the perforations l5 and F inthe flanges of the end frames A; thus adapting the skeleton frame forthe attachment of such end frames or resistance units in practically anydesired relation, and also providing for the attachment of inclosingpanels, which will be of proportions calculated for application toeither the skeleton frame or to assembledunits,

With the construction. herein defined it becomes practical to makeresistance units of uniform size With standardized framing which Willpermit of the units heing assembled in practically any relation to eachother, and in any position in or on the car, with the assurance thatshould any of the resistance members burn out or require renewal it-Will only be necessary to disconnect andremove the particular unit whichthe resistance element is located.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure loy Letters Patent is, 1 i p 1. An end frame support for rheostatresistance units, consisting of a flat skeleton section of pressed metalwith edge flanges having their faces at right angles to the flat surfaceof the section, said flat surface and flanges being perforated for thepassage of fastening bolts and bars, and the por- With their menace tionhaving a centrally located ventilating opening therein, I

2. An end frame support for rheostat resistance units, consisting of afiat skeleton section of pressed metal having edge flanges faces atright angles to the fiat face of the section, said flanges losingprovided with perforations therein for connecting the units together,said perforations being uniformly spaced in the flanges, Whereby theunits may be assembled with different sides in proximity, and with theperforations in registry for the reception of the fastening means. I

3. An end frame support for .rheostat resistanceunits consisting of aflat skeleton section of pressed metal haying edge flanges with theirouter faces at right angles to the surface of the frame said flangesbeing provided with correspondingly spaced perforations for thereception of fastening means, whereby the units may he securedtog-"etherv and with intermediate corresponding perforations for thereception of fastening means, whereby inclosing ;il11lS may he se curedto the units i. A rheostat resistance unit, embodying oppositelydisposed end frames, each consisting of a flat skeleton section ofpressed n etal having edge flanges with correspondingly spacedperforations therein, oars extending through the flat portion of andrigi ly connecting said end frames, and resistance elements supportedon'said bars.

5. 'lhe combination with resistance units formed by end framesconsisting of flat skeleton sections of pressed metal having edgeflanges "with perforations in said flanges and connecting rods between.said end frame having the resistance nhers supported thereon, of askeleton frame for the reception of said resistance'units embodying endframes having inwardly extending flanges, longitudinal edge barsconnecting the flanges of the end frames and inwardly extending shelvesfor the reception of the end frames of the resistance units, saidflanges and shelves'cf the skeleton frame being pro- 'vided withperforations spaced to correspond to the s'pacin of the perforations inthe resistance unit rams.

'SKlNNER.

WK, inseam,

